Mop squeezing funnel



June 5, 1962 A. L. P. MANN MOP SQUEEZING FUNNEL Filed Oct. 27, 1960 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,037,234 MOP SQUEEZING FUNNEL Ann Lee Pavlica Mann, 302 Crain St., San Antonio, Tex. Filed Oct. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 65,443 1 Claim. (Cl. 15--263) of such a device characterized by means whereby water squeezed from the mop may readily drain into the bucket or similar receptacle.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which may be readily adapted to a variety of sizes of receptacles, and which is designed as substantially funnel-shaped having an open serrated bottom, the serrations being adapted to grip the end portion of a mop when the same is inserted into the device for squeezing.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble, and utilize.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device of the instant invention shown in association with a bucket and a mop being squeezed therein.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the device, shown in association with a bucket or similar receptacle, the latter being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the construction of FIG 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, the device of the instant invention is comprised of an inverted frusto-conical funnel-shaped member 11, which is provided about its periphery with a plurality of drainage openings 12 and 13, the openings being arranged in rows, with the larger openings toward the top of the device. The funnel is made of two parts 11a and 1112, the parts being connected by reverting and interlocking the edges as best shown at 14 and 15 in FIG. 5. The lower end of the funnel-shaped member is provided with an opening 16 (see FIG. 3) and is crimped around the edges as at 17 to provide serrations 18, the serrations or projecting portions extending inwardly of the opening, and providing means against which the end of the mop may be rotated to effect a wringing or squeezing action. The opening 16 is, as shown in FIGURE 3, substantially starshaped. The star shape of the opening 16 results from crimping of the edges to form the serrations 18. The upper portion of the funnel-shaped frusto-conical member 11 is provided with a reverted lip 19, and means are provided for supporting the device on the rim of a bucket B or similar device. Such means take the form of a metal strip 20 which is outwardly bowed as at 21 to conform to the configuration of the funnel 11, and which is provided adjacent each end with two or more bayonet slots 22 which are adapted selectively to engage over the reverted rim 23 of the bucket B. Suitable rivets 24 or the like serve to hold the bowed portion 21 of the strip against the outer periphery of funnel-shaped member 11 adjacent its top.

Certain of the drainage openings 12 are disposed adjacent the reverted lip 19 at the upper portion of the funnel-shaped member 11 and in a plane above the plane of the support means 20. The purpose of positioning certain of the drainage openings 12 as above described is that when a wet mop is being squeezed in the funnelshaped member 11 water will be squeezed from the upper portion of the mop and rise in the funnel-shaped member 11. The openings 12 adjacent the lip 19 allow the water rising in the funnel-shaped member 11 to drain into the container B rather than over the top and onto the floor or surface being cleaned.

A spring clip 25 is secured as by means of a screw or rivet 26 to the edge of funnel-shaped member 11 opposite strip 20 and serves to engage over the rim 23 to hold that portion of the device in related assembly.

The device is adapted to be positioned, as best shown in FIG. 1, in a bucket B or similar receptacle, and a mop M having an associated handle H is adapted to be pressed gently downwardly into the interior of the funnel and rotated against the serrations 18 to effectively wring the mop and squeeze the moisture therefrom. The mop may be pressed downwardly to a greater degree than indicated in the drawings and rotated or rubbed against the serrations as long as may be necessary. Water squeezed from the mop obviously drains outwardly through the openings 12.

By virtue of the 011 center position of the receptacle,

, as best shown in FIG. 3, the entire mop may be dipped into the bucket B for saturation whenever desired.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a mop squeezing device which accomplishes all the objects of this inventive concept, and others, including many advantaegs of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A device for wringing mops comprising a funnel-shaped member having serrations on the smaller end thereof defining an opening having a star configuration, said funnel-shaped member having a plurality of drainage openings throughout the wall surface thereof, said openings at the upper portion of said funnel-shaped member being larger than the openings at the bottom portion thereof, an annular lip around the upper end of said funnel-shaped member, support means for said funnel-shaped member secured to the wall surface thereof and spaced downwardly from said annular lip, portions of said funnelshaped member defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced drainage openings adjacent said annular lip arid above the plane of said support means, said support means comprising strip means having straight projecting ends which extend laterally in opposite directions from the wall surface of said funnel-shaped member, a plurality of bayonet slots in the underside of each end of said strip means for engaging the rim of a bucket, and a spring clip secured to said funnel-shaped member on the side thereof opposite said strip means, the drain openings adjacent said annular lip being circumferentially spaced from said spring clip and disposed in a plane spaced inwardly of the plane of the wall of the bucket to which the device is 3 attached whereby fiuid drained through said openings 1,748,756 flows into the bucket. 2,079,186 References Cited in the file of this patent 2679067 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,177,681 Christensen Apr. 4, 1916 12:541 1,504,990 Stafford Aug. 12, 1924 4 Cutler Feb. 25, 1930 Schulman May 4, 1937 Delmas May 25, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1911 

